Grooms Receives AAPA PPM Certification

Jesse Grooms, Jr., risk manager for Virginia International Terminals, Inc., in Norfolk, on March 20 received the American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) Professional Port Manager (PPM) certification. AAPA’s 2007 board chairman, Capt. Allen O. Domaas, PPM, president and CEO of Canada’s Fraser River Port Authority in New Westminster, B.C., presented the coveted award to Mr. Grooms at the Association’s annual “Washington People” Luncheon, in Washington, D.C. AAPA made the award presentation immediately following a keynote address by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, which attracted about 325 port and government officials from throughout the Western Hemisphere. The certification program, which AAPA initiated in 1995, encourages, rewards and advances professional standards in public port management. Each PPM participant is required to already hold a management-level position at a public port or other maritime-related entity, complete a prescribed curriculum of seminars, and participate in one or more of AAPA’s 13 technical committees. Participants must also write and get approval on a paper that contributes substantially to the body of knowledge concerning public port management.